Water softkninff apparatus



Dec. '7 1926. Re. 16,497

.J. E. CAPS WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS original Filed J1me 1916 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 7,19%. R 16,497 J. E. cAPs I 7 WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS Original Filed n 1916 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 illl fink/260w.-

4&3.

' Dec. 192 Re, 16,497

Y ,1. E. cAPs v WATER S OFTENING APPARATUS Original Filed June 1916 :s Sheets-Sheet 5 I/ZZ/(f/ZZO/" dilly.

Rama! Dec- 7,1926. UNITED STATES.

JOHN 1;. cars, or

warm: comm;

Original No. 1,495,317, 105,007. a

This invention has for its object to provide an automatic water-softening apparatus in which there is employed as a softening agent, a mineral substance such as glau- 5 conite, or other quick regenerating base exchange silicates, bases with hard water filtered therethrough. and which is adapted to be regenerated perimagnesiafrom the surfaces of the mineral grains to condition said mineral for further activity in softening water.

The particular object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the character defined, inwhich the water-softening mineral is automatically regenerated and washed at intervals alternating with intervals of the filtration therethrough of water tov be softened. A further particular object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character defined in which the volume of water to be softened is accurately measured so as not to exceed the capacity of the softening '25 mineral to efficiently perform its function between the intervals of regeneration thereof.

A further objectof the inventionis to provide an apparatus which will deliver a definite quantity of regenerating fluid to the exhausted water-softening mineral and afterward will deliver a definite quantity of wash water to relieve the water-softening minagain be ready for softeningwater. Y

Afurther. particular object of the invention isjto provide an automatic apparatus of the character'defined water continuously. I

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following specification.

The invention consists in the features of which will supply soft described and claimed.

In' the accompanying ing the invention:

Figure 1, is a view in elevationpartly in section of a water-softening apparatus'constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2, is a fragmentary detail view in elevation showing a part of the valve-actuating mechanism.

Figure 3, is an end elevation looking toward the right-hand end of Figure 2,

wmms'r'rn, ILLINOIS, assrenon,

which effects a change of odically to remove the deposits of lime and ter-softening minera eral of such regenerating fluid so that it will ,ly freed of solids;

.- The water to be softened enters the waterconstruction and combination of parts here-- Re. 16,497 PATENT OFFICE.

WATEB-SOFTENING APPARATUS.

Original application filed J'une 26, 1916. Serial No. oaaso. Blenewed larch 4, 1e22, Serial in. 541,407. dated Kay 27, 1924. Application for reissue filed-April 5B9, 1926. Serial No.

sections showingthree-way valves employed and illustrating the different positions of through the apparatus,

Figures 6 and 7, are detail vertical sections showing the containers for regenerating solutions and water for rinsing the watersoftening. agent and the mechanism for controlling the flow from the same, I

Figure 8, is a detail. view in elevation showing the mechanism for actuating the valve controlling the flow from one of the containers shown in Figures 6, and 7 Figures 9 and 10 are detail sections on the lines8 99 and 1010 respectively, of Figure The apparatus comprises two containers A and B respectively, for masses of the wa- Each of said containers is divided into a plurality of compartments C, D, E and F disposed at difierent elevations. The compartments C, D and E are each adapted to receive a pair of foraminous plates G between which the masses or beds H of mineral are received, there being free spaces I and J in each compartment above and below the said plates G. Each of the spaces I is connected with a water sup- P y P P nected w th a discharge pipe L leading into the chamber F constituting an ordinary til-- ter chamber in which the soft water is meremay also-be a steam or mechanically actu ated pump of which the pipe 1 is the suction or inlet-pipe and the pipe 4 is the discharge,

.the pump-cylinder constitutingthe watermeasuring device or meter. The water or other actuating means causes a reciprocation of the piston rod 3, the latter making one stroke for each specific volume of water passing through the meter, or the like, hereinafter termed meter. The water as it leaves the meter 2 enters the pipe 4 which hasa branch 5 connecting with a valvehousing 6 and another branch 7 connecting with a valve-housing 8. Each of said hous- BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO OE FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

said valves to controltheffiow of liquids K and each of the spaceaJ is conv pipe K and also to -shut off I D and E of the'container; A, and thence sewer. The branch wateradmitted to the filter chamber F, or

"valve lever 17. 18

1 each other and are coupled at valve levers 19- buckle 24 well-known manner.

through the pipe L we ed to pipe L and a pipe 11 leadingto the filter chamber F, or to a'pipe 12 leading to :the similarly to communicate with the pipe: of the container B by the valve in the housing 8, the latter being adapted also to cutofi such communication and establish the same between said'pipe K and the pipe 13; The pipe K of {the c0ntainer B passes through the several 0, D and E thereof, and into the pi I L, and thence to the valve housing 14 which is similar to the valve housing '10 and is equipped with a valve adapted to connect the pipe;L with the pipe 15 leadingto the to the sewer.

Each of the three-way valves in the housings 6. 8, 10 and 14 is equipped with'a 19 and respectively, and in the following pages I will refer to the valves and levers by the last-named ref .erence characters for purposes of convenience.

The valve levers 17 and 18 extend'toward their free ends by'meansof a link 21, the

and 20 being similarly coupled by means of a link 22 and thevalve levers being all-connected to-be turned in unison by means of a-connecting rod 23 equipped with the-turnfor purposes of-adjustment-in .a

The arrangement'of' the three-way valves is such that when the pipe K of the chamber A is connected with the branch 50f the pipe 4, the branch .7 of the latter'will be cutoff from communication with the pipe K of the container B, b ut the latter will at'that 'time .be placed in communication pipe 13, which-constitutes a branch of the pipe 25 connected with the two tanks 26 and 27 respectively. The tank 26 is, adapted to contain a regenerating solution" for the water-softening m ineral beds H, and the other of said tanks is adapted to -contain flushing or rinsing water for rinsing or clear ing the filter bedsof the regenerating solution after the latter has been passed through the same. While the pipe K of the container B communicates with the said pipe 13, the pipe L of s'aid container communicates with the pipe'16 leading to the sewer so that the regenerating solution after passing through communication 7 is valve-housing 10 also equippedwitha three-way valve adapt establish communication between the 7 of the pipe 4 is ada ted chambers I withthe pipe 16 leading with the V with a the: filter'qbeds-is drained or and-is followed also drained .ofi, 'whereafter the container again ready 1 for 1 the passage there'- through ofwater to? be softened;

' In order to more fully illustrate the opera tionof th'evalves I have shown in Figures 4 and 5the valves 19 and 20 in their several re-.

"by the flush water -from the tank 27, which spective positions, {said figures being equally illustrative' of the valves 17 ducts. Thus in vious changes in position of Figure 4 said valves are positioned sotha-t the plpe L of the container A communicates with'the pipe 12 leading to the sewer; whereas the pipe L of the .container B communicateiswith the pipe 15 lead-ingto the filter chamber'F. In Figure 5 the-position of the valves 19 and 20 is respectively reversed. i

munication is established between either of the pipe 13 and 9 and the pipes K of! the respective containersA and B, the contents of the tank 26 will'pass through one of said The tank 26'isv by an ordinary float 26,'so that wh'en'com th h C roug 5 qthe outlet end of said pipebeing controlled valve in the usual mannor to maintain a given-level of brine there- 4 'in. The outlet from-said tank 26 is controlledby a Hat disc-valve 30, the stem of which is suitably 31'and'carries a float 32, said .valve being normally held on its seat against the action of th'e'float'32 by the hydrostatic prespon raising the valve, however, the presguided in 'a housing of the valve 30.

sure on opposite faces,thereof'becomes sub- \stantially equalized-and thereupon the float 32 will support'sai'd valve in "it's raised position, but will cause it to again close'as the water-level in the tank 26 v of the discharge of its contents, and when" closed s'aidvalveflwill be again held on its seat by the hydrostatic pressure" in a wellown manner. Between'the ends of. the

valve-stem of said. valve is 'a collar 33 a path'of a pivoted which is disposed in the arm 34 mounted on a shaft35whi'ch extends through" the wall of the tank'26 and carries an arm 36 equipped with a weight 37 and shoe 38, the latter being equipped with a projection 39 adapted to be engagedbv the ends of 'two trip-levers 40 and 41 respectively. The said 'trip- .lever 40 is pivotally mounted upon the end of an arm 42 p and the lever 41; similarly mounted at one end of 'a lever 43, The latter is pivotallv mounted between its ends the arm 42 is pivotally mounted at its other end on said stud. The other end of the lever vLID lowers by virtue on a stud 44 while ,necting rod 46 by i The engagement of the 43 is pivotally connected by means of a link 45 with the connecting rod 46 connecting the same with the valve lever 18, and the lever 42 issimilarly connected with said conmeans of a link 47. A stop 48 is provided for limiting the pivotal movement of both the levers 42 and 43 in one direction, and a stop 49 limits the downward movement of the lever or arm 36.

Referring now to Figure 1, it will be ob: served that, as the valve-lever, 18, becomes positioned similarly to the lever of the valve lever 20, shown in' said figure (which woul be coincidental therewith) .the connecting. rod 46 will be'raised to the upper limit of its movement, and will tend to. raise both the links 45 and .47. This would have no in'- fiuence to turn the lever 43 because of the engagement of the latter with the stop 48 at the end opposite to that connected with the rod 46 and would, therefore, result in a pivotal movement of the link 45 relative to the lever 43, but at the same time the upward movement of the connecting rod 46 would be transmitted to thelever 42 which would result in raising the trip lever 40.

latter with the projection 39 would cause the arm 36 to' be raised thereby turning the shaft 35 and arm 34, thus raising the valve 30 off its seat, an causing the contents of the tank 26 to be drained. oif, as said valve would be maintained in its raised position by the float 32. As the valve lever 18 is turned to the position indicated in Figure 5, the connecting rod 46 will pull downwardly .on both links 45 and 47, but obviously the lever 42 would not respond to movement in this direction because of the stop 48 so that the motion would be transmitted only to the lever 43 with the result that the trip lever 4lthereof would effect the raising of the arm 36, thereby again opening the valve 30. As either of the trip levers move upwardly it will be obvious that they will pass out of engaging relation to the projection 39 so that the arm 36 will then drop back level has entirely com movement. This construc- 'tion and operation is well-known, particuv to its normalposition before the trip pleted its upward larly in the art of closet-flushing andwill be readily understood.

Thus upon each change in position of theseveral three-way valve the contents of the tank 26 would b dra1ned off to pass through the beds of water-softening. mineral coni should be followed by equipped with a float similarly controlled by tained in that one gf the containers A and B which is thrown out of communication with the pipe 4. After the tank 26 has been so drained nd after each draining thereof it the draining of the tank 27. Thelatter is fed from a suitable source of supply by means of the pipe 50 valve 51. The outlet from said tank 27 is a cable or chain d seen that all of the varying the stroke of a flat disc-valve 52 adapted to be supported by a float 53, and adapted to be opened by the lever 54 engaging the collar55 on the stem of said valve; the said lever 54 being pivotally connected with the valve-housing and carrying the weight 56'and a shoe 57-. The latter is adapted to be actuated by the triplever 58 which is connected by means of with a float 61 in the tank 26. The said float 61 will drop with. the liquid level in the tank 26, and, as the latter approaches its lowest point, the chain orcable 59, which contains suflicient slack to'enable the float 61 to move downwardly a considerable distance without exerting any strain on the trip lever 58, will have taken upsuch slack and will thereupon turn said lever the lever 54 and thus lifting the valve 52 from its seat. This will cause the water contained in the tank 27 to drain off and follow the contents of the tank 26 through the container A or Bat that time connected with the pipe 25. In order to prevent the water from the tank 27 pipe 25 is equipped with a check-valve 62 and also with a check-valve 63 which provents flow from From the foregoing description it will be threeway valves will be simultaneously operated, and by the connection between the latter and the valve mechanism of the tank 26, each movement of the three-way valve for stopping the flow of water to be softened through one of the containers A or B and causing it to flow through the other thereof, will be followed by the passage through the then inactive container, of the regenerating liquid from the tank 26 followed by the washing or rinsing water from the tank 27.

I will now describe mo re particularly the.

mechanism whereby the flow through the tanks A and B is automatically alternated, at regular intervals controlled and determined by the volume of water' passing through the meter 2.

The piston rod connected with a rocklever 64 pivotally mounted on a standard 65. The said lever 64 is equipped with a guide-flange 66 engaging shoe 67 which is also engaged by the screw-shaft 68 rotatably mounted in a projection 69 of said lever 64 and which is axially parallel with'the guide,

flange 66. The said screw-shaft is held against longitudinal movement relatively to the projection 69, and may be turned to raise and lower the shoe 67 for the purpose of the connecting rod 70 which connects the shoe 67 with a rocking lever 71 ivotally mounted on a shaft 72- journ'allet in a standard last-named construction is more fully illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, reference to which will now be had.

entering the tank 26 the 59 trained over pulleys 60,

58, thereby raising or frame 73. The

1 care surface'83 which extends of-the axis of'rotationland aj'cam surface 4 describing substantially, a short spiral congentially with the, surface so disposed that their equipped .atits free end with Q and 26 and 27 will successively flow through the we a e .which is engaged; 'anirotated by means -of-a. lever 71. pinion 76 whichme'shes with tively; a Each ofthe, latter has a surface 82 valte-levers 19 and p the latter; the idler 95' being, disposed below roller i b of will effect the I would, of course, effect a raising of the lever 87, but to prevent this the cable .91 Will have ratchet wheel 74 suflicientamountof slack therein which will be taken up during lever 86 without afiecti'ng'the' position of said lever 87, "During the further rotation of the'cams the lever 86 willbe' gradually restored to the upper limit of and during this .period' slack vided in the cable 90 which will be taken up by the dropping of the'lever 87 when the surface 83 of its cam becomes positioned as the surface 83 of the cam controlling-the lever 86 is shown to be positioned in'full lines, in Figure 2. For th dog'or pawl 75 i=pi1votal1y mounted on the Said-shaftalsocarries a spurat-spur gear 77 von a shaft 78 journalled in bearings 79. 'Said shaft78carr1es two cams "80 and 81 respecconcentric With-Ii1 axis: of rotation extending through an. arc of about, iorslightly in excess of, one hundredelghty degrees, and a almost radiall necting the innen end ofthesurface 83 tan- 82. The cams are surfaces 83 are dipulleys during this a'weight 98. I

otally mounted. Each of said levers is tainer B, and at this time the contents of the I a weight 88, tanks 26 and 27 will pass through the con between its ends with an anti-friction tainer A and thence through pipe ,l2-xto roller 89, one of said. rollers resting upon the surface of the cam '80,'and the other thereof on the surface of the cam 81. Connected with the weights 88 are two cables 90 and 91 respectively, which are trained over idlers 92 supported onthe cross-head 93 of stand-' ards 94 of the frame 73, The cable 90 is further trained over'anidler pulley 95, suitably supported at a point between.the con-J tainers A and l3,'and connects atvits other ing" filtered through the filter chamber F of container B Will pass to'the service pipe 99' which, as well as the pipe 97, connects with the service pipe" of the building or plant, such as a laundr in which the apparatus is installed. I i V .of course, that the shoe 67 to a very considerable degree to greatly vary the volume of Water passing through either of the A or B before being deflected to pass, through m the other of said containers, thus;- enabling containers A andfB above the the same apparatus tor bc used for softening 20, and; is connected with water ofodifi'erent degrees of'hardness, and

between the saidivalve levers.

As shown in Figure 2, the antifriction regeneration and washing of the Water-softening mineral beds employed. i I It will be further notedtha't the containti'cally at the outer'end of the cam, surface ers A and B are bu1lt up'injsections and may 83,"and when disposedfin this position said be readily taken apart-for lever E86 will drop rather suddenly, thereby pair andrenewal of the beds of water-softenpulling the several Valve-levers of the sev' ing mineraland filter beds thereof, and that such containers ,Inay'be builtfup toany desired height to provide a greater or Iess number ofbeds of I b m cording as the circumstances may-require.

he apparatus as shown anddescribed at,-

86 the roller 89 thereforced revolution through a short are of the cam 80, there being obmovement ofthe lever y herein-beforeset' A viouslyfcapableof co and d iel if v dict-ate, but all "such X ariation s and modifica tions are includedin the'inve'ntion' asdefined the appended claims. drawings show two tanks or containers, or to be more exact two stacks of sections or cells (as they are generally called in the forth iT e ep a iet s s abpositionshown in Figure 5, the water 'from pipe 4 will pass through the container A and-filter F to the service p'ipe 97, 'an'dat this tlme the contents of the tanks and thence through pipe '16 to container B The dropping of-the lever 86 the sewer.

its movement,

will-be prolug up of slack therelnyea'ch of said containers A purposes of rewater-softening;mineral acv ns iderable variation echanical skill 'may the dropping of the e purpose of maintaming the cables 90 and 91" in thegrooves sewer; whereas the softened water 'a'fte'rbealso varying the duration of theintervalsof tains the several objects of the invention While in its preferred embodiment, the

regeneration and washing of the water-softening mineral beds is automatically accomplished, it will be obvious that, the means for automatically performing these functions may be omitted without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims. I claim as my invention: -1. In a water softening apparatus, a meter, a container for softening means, a container for regenerating means, valves connected therewith controlled by said meter, whereby the successive periods of softening, regeneration and flushing are controlled by the quantity of fluid passing through said meter.

2. In a water softening apparatus, a meter through which incoming hard water flows, a softening tank, a brine tank, valves controlling the operation of said tanks includ ing a drain valve and a brine valve, said valves being. adapted to becontrolled by said meter.

3. Ina water softening apparatus, a meter, a container for softening means, a container for regenerating means, valves connected therewith controlled by said meter, whereby the successive periods of softening, regeneration andflushing are controlled by the quantity of fluid passingthrough said meter, and cam means controlled by said meter and in turn controlling. some of said valves.

4. Water'soften zeolite filter-bed, means for passing a predetermined volume of .water to be softened therethrough and automatically shutting off the supply thereof to automatically passing a ume' of regenerating li following the shutting o of the water supply to'service, means for automatically passing a predetermined volume of flush water therethrough following the flow of regenerating liquid, and means reopening the water supply from the filterbed following'the flushlng thereof.

5. In a water softening apparatus, a reagent drum, means for passing water to be softened throughthe reagent in'said drum, a water meter for measuring the water flowing through said drum, a valve for shutting off the flow of water through the drum tov service, and means controlled by said. meter for actuating the said valve. 1

6. In a water softening apparatus, a sof-' tening tank, a regenerating tank, a valve service, means for predetermined voladapted to control the passage of water to service and the passage of' regeneratin fluid from the regenerating tank to the so teningtank, a drain, and a meter adapted to control the successive periods of softening, regeneration and flushing according to the quantity of water passing therethrough and into the system.

ing apparatus including a uid therethrough' forautomatically.

. eral, a. source 7. In an automatic water softener a combination of a softening means and a regenerating means for the softening means, and means actuated by the passage of incomin hard water adapted to regulate the peri of softening and regeneration.

8. Water-softening apparatus including a container for a mass of water-softening mineral adapted to be interposed in the water supply system of a buildin or the like, for supplying soft waterat all points of discharge in said system, a source ply of a regenerating solution for said mmeral mass connected with said container, a drain connected therewith, and valves controlling all of' said connections and connected together to be actuated in unison to shut off the water supply through said container to service and at the same time connect said source of regenerating solution and said drain withsaid container and v1ce versa, supply system, and mechanism adapted to be actuated thereby and operatively connectedwith said valves for automatically actuating the latter at intervals determined .by thevolume of water passing through said system.

. 9. In a method of softening water, metering the incoming raw water and controlling the successive" operations of a softening, re-

generation and flushing by the amount of water passing through the meter.

10. In a water softening apparatus, tening means, a regenerating means, a meter, and means for controlling the softening and regenerating operations controlled by the meter.

11. In a water softening stem having a softenin tank and abrine tank, a meter, cam mec anism operated'by said meter, and

' valves controlled by said cam mechanism for controlling a plurality of operations of a water softening system.

12. Water-softening apparatus comprising two containers forcwater-softening mintened connected with both said receptacles, connection between the latter and service pipes and with a drain, connection between said receptacles and sources of supply of a rege liquid for the, water-softening neratin m neral an wash-water for the same respeca water-meter interposed in the waterasof of supf s pply of water to be f.

tively, yalves controlling all of said conneci tions, and valve-actuatin means adapted to automatically and of said containers with the water supply and service pipes and of supply of regenerating liquid and subsequently with the source of supply of wash water and the said drain.

13. Water-softening apparatus including containers for water-softening mineral, a.

sync ronously actuate. said valves for connecting one the other thereof with said source source of supply of a regenerating solution and with said source of supply for the same, means for letting in a supply of lwater tobe softened, and discharge connections to sewer and service pipes respectively, valves controlling the said several connections for :connecting said containers with said water-supply and service pipes of regener-. atlng solution and thesewer, means for' measuring the volume of water supplied, mechanism associated withvand actuated by said means, and connection between said mechanism and said valves forautomati-l 'c'ally actuating the same at intervals to effect flow of water to be tainers alternately.

14. Water-softening apparatus comprising two containers for water-softening mineral, a single source of supply of water to be softened common to both thereof, valves consoftened to said con-v trolling the connection of both containers:

with said source of supply, a water-meterthrough which water fed to said containers must pass, and mechanism operatively con nected with and adapted to be' actuated bv said watermeter and operatively connected with said valves for actuating the latter to close-one thereof, and open the other, whereby to alternately connect saidcontainers I with said source of supply at intervals deed to be actuated by termined by the volume of water passing; through said meter.

apparatus comprising two containers for water-softening min eral, a single source of supply of water to be softened common to both thereof, valves controlling the. connection of both containers with said source of supply, mechanism interposed in the connection of said source of supply with sand containers for measuring the water supplied thereto, mechanism for actuating said valves for shutting off the 15. Water-softening water-supply to one of said containers as the other is connected therewith, said lastnamed mechanism actuated by said water-measuring mechanism. i

16. Water-softening" apparatus comprising two containers for water-softening mineral, a single source of supply of water to'be softened common to both thereof, valves controlling the connection of both containers with said source of supply, a water-meter interposed in the, connection of said containers with said source of supply and including a reciprocable element, and mechanism adapt:- said reciprocable ele- .ment and operatively connected with said valves for simultaneously actuating-the same to close one thereof and open the other.

'17. Water-softening apparatus including a container for a mineral adapted to be interposed in. the water supply system of-a building or the like. for supplying soft water at all pointsmf discharge in said system, a source of supply 0 a regenerating solution for said mineral mass of water-softening V ,mineral adapted to container, adrain connected therewith, and valves controlling all'of said connections and connected together to be actuated in unison to'shut ofii' mass connected with said thewater supply through said container and at the same time connect said source of re generatingsolutionand said drain with said container and vice versa, a water-meterinterposed in the water supply system,- and mechanism adapted to be actuated thereby and operatively connected with said valves for automatically actuating the latter at in-v tervals determined'by the volume of water.

ond source of supply of' water to said contamer, afsour c'e of supply of a regenerating solution connectedwith said container, a drain connected wlth trolling all ofsaid connections and connected together to be simultaneouslyactuated to shut off said container from the water sup ply system of the building and at the'sa'me time to connect the same with said source of regenerating solution, said second watersup Ely" and said drain, and operative connection etween said valves and said water-meterto be-actuated by the latter at' intervals determined by the volume of water passing therethrough. a

19. VVater-softening apparatus including a container fora mass of water-softening mineral adapted to be interposed in the water-supply system of a-buildingor the like to supply'soft water at every outlet, a wate r meter interposed in said system, a second sourceof supply of water to said container, a

source of supply of aregenerating "solution connected with said container, a'drain'connected with thelatter, valves controlling all of said connections and connected together. to be simultaneously actuated to shut'oif said container from the water supplysystem of the building and at the same time to connect thesame with said source of regenerating solution, said secondwater supply and said drain, and operative connection between said valves and said water-meter to be actuated by the latter at intervals determined by the volume of water passing therethrough, and mechanism associated with said second water supply and said source of regenerating solution for automatically effecting flow of water from said second supply following the flow of a predetermined volume of said regenerating solution into said container.

20. ater-softening apparatus including a container. for a mass of water-softening be interposed in the water-supply system of a building or the like the latter, valves conempty successively, between said valves and said to supply soft water at every outlet, a watermeterinterposed in said system, two liquidcontaining tanks connected with said con tainer, a drain connected with the latter, valves controlling all of said connections and connected together to be simultaneously actuated to shut off said container from the water supply system of the building and at the same time to connect the same with said tanks and said drain, means controlled by the water level in one of the latter for causing said tanks to and operative connection water-meter to be actuated by the latter at intervals determined by the volume of water passing therethrough. I

21. Water-softening apparatus including a container for a mass of water-softening mineral adapted to be interposed in the water-supply system of a building or the like to supply soft Water at every outlet, two liquid-containing taiiks connected with said container, a drain connected with the latter. v

valves controlling all of said connections an connected together to be simultaneously actuated to shut off said container from the water supply system of the building and at the same time to connect the same with said tanks and said drain, means controlled by the water level in one of the latter for causing said tanks to emptysuccessively.

22. Water-softening apparatus including two containers for masses of water-softening mineral adapted to be interposed in the water-supply system of a building or the like to su ply soft water at all service outlets, a ta with said containers, a drain connected therewith, valves controlling all of said connections connected together to be .actuated in unison for throwing one of said containers out of the water supply system and the other into the same and simultaneously therewith connecting the first-named container with said tank and said drain, and vice versa.

23; Water-softening apparatus including two containers for masses of water-softening mineral adapted to be interposed in the water-supply system of a buildlng or the like to supply soft water at all service outlets,

two tanks for liquids connected with said containers, a drain connected therewith,

valves controlling all'of said connections connected together to be actuated in unison for throwing one .of said containers out of the water supply system and the other-into the same and simultaneously therewith connecting the first-named container with said tanks and said drain, and vice versa, means con trolled by the water level in one'of the latter for causing said tanks to empty successively.

24. Water-softening apparatus including two containers for masses of water-softening mineral adapted to be interposed in the for regenerating liquid connected water supply system of a building or the like to supply soft water at all service outlets, a tank for regenerating liquid connected with said containers, a drain connected therewith, valves controlling all of said connectionsconnected together to be actuated in unison for throwing one of said containers out of the water supply system and the other into the 2 5. "Water-softening apparatus including two containers for masses of water-softening mineral adapted to be interposed in the water-supply system of a building or the like to supply soft water at all service outlets, two tanks for liquids connected with said containers, a drain connected therewith, va lves controlling all of said connections connected together to be actuated in unison for throwing One of said containers out of the water supply system and the other into the same and simultaneously therewith connecting the first-named container with said tanks and said drain, and vice versa, means controlled by the water latter for causing said tanks to empty successively, a water-meter interposed in' said water supply system, and mechanism associated wit the same and said valves and adapted to be actuated by said meter for automaticallyactuating said valves at intervals determined by the volume of water passing through-said meter.

26. Water-softening apparatus including two containers for masses of water-softening mineral adapted to be interposed in the water-supply system of a building or the like to supply soft water at all service outlets, valves controlling the connection of each of said containers with the said water supply system, coupling for level in one of the taneously actuating the same to cause the ing zeolite assoclated with each container,

valve-controlled connection between said containers and service piping, mechanism controlled by the water levels in said containers for alternately connecting the same with said service piping, a source of supply of regenerating fluid for regenerating the zeolite for each. bed after each draining. of

the tank with which the sameis associated,

. a water'supply for each c0ntainer,and-Inech- 'anism. associated with the. aforesaid mechanism forsuccessively introducing brineyand fresh water. into each container, including means for draining off such brine and a flushing charge of fresh water to eliminate the brine preparatory to refilling the container. 7

28. Water-softening apparatus including I v a zeolite filter-bed, means for passing apredetermined volumeof water to be softened therethrough and automatically shutting off the supply thereof, means for automatically passing a predetermined. volume of regenerating liquid therethrough following the shutting oil of the-water supply, means for automatically passing a predetermined volume of flush water therethrough following the flow of regenerating liquid, and means for 'automatically reopening the water supply to the,

-. filter-bed for effecting closure of the water supply and service valvesand effecting con nection with saiddrain and said sources .of regenerating liquid and flush .water for preparing said filter-bed for the passage therethrough of another predetermined volume of water to be softened.

30. Water-softening apparatus including a water supply, service piping, a zeolitefilter-bed interposed between said parts, valves controlling the connection of the filter-bed with both, a source of zeolite regenerating liquid, a drain, valves controlling the connection of both with said filter, and mechanism controlled by the water volume passed through the filter-bed for actuating said valves to shut oil the water supply and service pipe from-communication with the filter-bed and cause regenerating liquid to pass through and drain from said filter bed, said valves and mechanismincluding means for causing a charge of flushing water from said water supply to pass through the filterbed following the passage of regenerating liquid therethrough.

31. Water-softening apparatus including a. zeolite filter,a source of supply of water having valve-controlled connection therewith, a source of supply of zeolite regenerating liquid connected therewith, mechanism controlled by the'volume of water passing through the filter for automatically shutting solution container,

. ly, means 01f the. water supply fronithesame at predetermined intervals, and simultaneously therewith f opening [communication between the same and said. fsource of'regenerating liquid, means controlled-. by'the volume of regenerating liquidpassing into the filterfor interrupting the communication of the source thereof with the latter. and effecting temporary connection With the water supply to flush the filter, a drain for the latter and meansincluded insaid mechanism for maintaininglsaid drainopen during the period of regeneration and flushing of said filter.

32. Ina Watersoftening apparatus, a reagent drum, means for passing water to be softened through the reagent in said drum, a water meter for measuring the water flowing through said, drum, off .the flow of water through the drum, and 'means operable by said meter for actuating the said valve. r

, A water softening apparatus comprising two containers having a filter bed of base exchange silicates in each; a regenerating means for supplying hard bed containers. alternatefor withdrawing soft water from the filter bed containers alternately, means for supplying regenerating solution from theregcnerating solution container to, the

waterto the. filter filterbed cont aiiiersrand for washing out the a valve for shutting excess regenerating solution from the filter bed containers alternately, means for metering the water treated, interconnected valve means actuated by said. metering" means 'to alternately change the filter bed containers from the softening-phase tothe reconditioning phase, .the reconditioning phase including both treating with regenerating solution and washing out the excess regenerating solution.

' .34. A softening apparatus comprising two or a number of containers constituting two" groups having a filter bed of silicates in. each container,

solution container, water to the groups of filter: bed containers base exchange a regenerating means for supplying hard alternately, means for withdrawing soft water from the groups of filter bed containers alternately, means for supplying regenerating solution from the regenerating solution container to the filter bed groups of containersv and for Washing out the excess regenerating solution from the groups of fil' ter bed containers alternately, means for metering the water treated, interconnectedvalve means actuated by said metering means to alternately change the group of filter bed containers from the softening phase to the reconditioning phase, the reconditioning ing with regenerating solution and washing out the excess regenerating solution.

35. In a water-softening apparatus the combination of a plurality of tankscontainphase including both treating water softening material, means for supplying the water to be softened to said tanks to cause it to pass through said material, a common container for the revivifying agent,

.means for supplying said" agent to each of said tanks to cause it to pass through said Water softening material and means for so controlling the flow of the revivifying agent that it will pass to one or a group of said tanks and not to another one or group of tanks.

36. In a water-softening apparatus the combination of two tanks containing a base exchange silicate, means for supplying the water to be softened to said tanks to cause it to pass through said base exchange silicate, agent, a fluid connection from said contamer to each to pass through said base exchange silicate and means for alternately cutting off the supply of said agent the process on in one'tank while the process of revivifying the base exchange silicate is going on in the other, and that these processes may al ternate so as to constitute a continuous water softening apparatus.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name. 1

JOHN E. CAPS.

a common container for a revivifying of said tanks to cause said agent to said tanks so that of water softening may be going a 

